Noble Marine & Sailingfast ILCA 7 Autumn Qualifier (Q6) at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy
by Micky Beckett 27 Oct 2023 11:57 BST
21-22 October 2023
Noble Marine & Sailingfast ILCA 7 Autumn Qualifier (Q6) at Weymouth © Lotte Johnson /
www.lottejohnson.com
In case anyone forgot this was the final qualifier of the year, a small downpour took place just as the everyone launched and headed out into Weymouth Bay, dampening neoprene but never enthusiasm. The breeze filled in from the North, at first in a moderate fashion but later in a fairly hefty way, with a steady 20kts for races 1 and 2 to give a nice boat-handling test.
Sam Whaley was quick out the blocks, a fast start in race 1 allowed him to lead the whole way round. Micky Beckett chased...too little too late, Sam didn't break a sweat. Tom Mitchell put in a very good performance to take 8th Place.
The next race saw Dan Whitely lead, again with Micky chasing. The shifts up the second beat were hard to read so each sailor played their hand at the bottom of the beat, with Dan losing his lead at the top of the beat. Sam came in 3rd.
The final race took place in a fading breeze and dimming light, again with Sam and Micky doing their best impression of a match race, always close enough to exchange pleasantries. Norman Struthers came in third, Ben Flower's rig falling down made him a notable absence. Oliver Allen-Wilcox had a good final race to take 6th.
Day 2 was a far shorter affair, with a freight ship so selfishly parked in the middle of the harbour the RC was compelled to set short races in the top half of the harbour. The breeze was a moderate SW with clear skies, as good as any day that October can offer. The flatter water made for races much more about the shifts and good positioning.
Both races 1 and 2 took similar form, with Sam and Micky taking it in turn to lead and chase their way around the front. Unfortunately for Sam he wasn't able to hold the lead till the end of either race, after which point the gentlemen's agreement to miss the last race was deployed. With the qualifier being sandwiched between two large weeks training, excuses were made and they sailed in. Dan misunderstood the agreement and missed the entire Sunday.
A great weekend's racing was enjoyed by all, Micky finished 1st with Sam in 2nd, both Norman and Alistair Brown showed a great ability to find good shifts and do wise racing, to finish 3rd and 4th respectively whilst only separated by a point.
During the weekend there were several stand out performances from several sailors in a strong fleet. Ben Flower took the final race win, James Foster was never out the top 7 and Freddie Howarth kept things consistent to finish in the top 10. Hats off to the three masters, David Surkov, Alex Davey and Roger Hakes who took part.
A huge thank you from the ILCA 7 sailors to the team of volunteers and the RO who consistently give up their time for us to have fun.
Also we must thank UKLA's terrific sponsors for their continuing support at the qualifiers. Many have been supporting us over many years through difficult times... thank you. Noble Marine, Ovington, Sailingfast and Rooster.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Nat | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | GBR | 210139 | Michael Beckett | Solva SC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (DNC) | 6 |
| 2 | GBR | 223102 | Sam Whaley | Swanage SC | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | (DNC) | 12 |
| 3 | CAN | 166111 | Norman Struthers | Stokes Bay SC | 4 | ‑6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 18 |
| 4 | GBR | 223070 | Alastair Brown | Great Moor SC | 7 | 4 | ‑8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 19 |
| 5 | GBR | 212907 | James Foster | Poole YC | 5 | ‑7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 22 |
| 6 | CAN | 211177 | Ben Flower | | 6 | 5 | (DNC) | 7 | 12 | 1 | 31 |
| 7 | GBR | 219907 | Nick Welbourn | Hykeham SC | 9 | ‑10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 34 |
| 8 | GBR | 221509 | Oliver Allen‑Wilcox | Chew Valley SC / Parkstone Yacht Club | 11 | 8 | 6 | ‑17 | 9 | 5 | 39 |
| 9 | GBR | 219812 | Tom Mitchell | Royal Tay Yacht Club | 8 | 11 | 9 | 10 | ‑14 | 7 | 45 |
| 10 | GBR | 220776 | Freddie Howarth | Parkstone YC | 14 | ‑15 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 51 |
| 11 | GBR | 219655 | Edward Baker | Chew Valley Lake SC | 15 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 11 | ‑18 | 58 |
| 12 | GBR | 214637 | Ewan McAnally | | 12 | ‑17 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 64 |
| 13 | GBR | 221578 | Daniel Whiteley | Port Dinorwic SC | 3 | 2 | 4 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 69 |
| 14 | GBR | 219069 | Finlay Tulett | Dalgety Bay Sailing Club | 17 | ‑19 | 19 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 70 |
| 15 | GBR | 222227 | Angus Kemp | The Poole yacht club | 10 | 9 | 12 | 14 | (DNC) | DNC | 75 |
| 16 | GBR | 211324 | Rhys Jones | Cardiff YC | ‑23 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 75 |
| 17 | GBR | 222548 | Roger Hakes | Parkstone Yacht Club | 21 | 13 | 14 | ‑22 | 16 | 11 | 75 |
| 18 | GBR | 222231 | Josh Lyttle | Queen Mary SC | ‑20 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 77 |
| 19 | GBR | 215835 | Tim Evans | Grafham Water SC | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | ‑19 | 14 | 79 |
| 20 | GBR | 216239 | Jamie Blake | Great Moor SC | ‑25 | 25 | 17 | 15 | 21 | 12 | 90 |
| 21 | GBR | 215612 | James Knight | Draycote Water SC | 26 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 18 | (DNC) | 95 |
| 22 | UKR | 218279 | David Surkov | Queen Mary SC | 19 | 22 | ‑23 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 103 |
| 23 | GBR | 209996 | Alex Davey | Royal Harwich YC | ‑24 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 17 | 106 |
| 24 | GBR | 216378 | Matthew Stubbins | Llandudno SC | 22 | 23 | ‑24 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 111 |
| 25 | GBR | 219665 | James Curtis | Bosham Sailing Club | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | UFD | 8 | 15 | 113 |
| 26 | GBR | 213545 | George Sunderland | Draycote Water | (RET) | 26 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 113 |
| 27 | | 207699 | Callum Wyper | | 13 | 21 | 25 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 119 |
| 28 | GBR | 221503 | Terry Hacker | Aldeburgh YC | 18 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 138 |
| 29 | | 219895 | James Percival‑Cooke | Norfolk Broads YC | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 150 |